Steve Jobs review

Title: Steve Jobs
Director: Danny Boyle
Cast: Michael Fassbender
         Seth Rogen
         Kate Winslet
         Jeff Daniels
Certificate: 15
Runtime: 122 minutes

Right... Now a couple of years ago (for those who remember), there was a film released about the life of Steve Jobs simply titled, Jobs. This film starred Ashton Kutcher in the title role and was released to fairly negative reviews. I never got the chance to see Jobs, but I can't see any way in which it could possibly be better than Danny Boyles' Steve Jobs.

Steve Jobs, for those who have been living under their local rock, is about the titular Apple CEO and isn't so much a biopic as such. Instead, Boyle decides to focus on 3 major turning points in the career of Jobs, 1984's reveal of the Mac, 1988's reveal of the Next (the cube shaped computer that Jobs "made" after he left Apple) and finally 1998's reveal of the iMac. At no point in the film do we see the reveals themselves as much as look at the backstage chaos that surrounds them. And my god... Is it thrilling.

Fassbender, as could possibly be expected, is terrific as Jobs. Does he look a lot like his character, not much, not until the last segment of the film at least. but that doesn't change a thing at all as his performance is too captivating for anyone to possibly care. Bringing out the narcissistic and the vulnerable sides of his character simultaneously. Both savage and sentimental, Fassbenders Jobs is exactly how the man himself had been described; an egotist and someone who was a massive pain in the arse to work with, but had enough charisma and showmanship to keep the people interested.

Fassbender isn't the only one who brings his A game, the supporting cast of this film is equally stellar. Particular standouts are Jeff Daniels, who plays Apple CEO John Sculley, acting as a sort of surrogate father to jobs; someone who sees potential in Jobs' methods, and Seth Rogen, who does a fantastic job in a dramatic and almost heartbreaking role as Steve Wozniak, Jobs' undervalued and constantly shunned partner. There is a particularly brilliant scene in an orchestra pit during the 1988 reveal act in which Wozniak and Jobs argue over the basis of Jobs' work.

Whilst reading the review for this film on Den of Geek a couple of days ago, they made a point that I could not agree more with; that Steve Jobs would work well as a stage play as oppose to a film. Given that Boyle has had previous work with theatre (with his critically acclaimed Frankenstein adaptation), I find it very difficult to argue with this point. The film is already set into a clear 3 act structure, and the same characters are used for each of the different acts, another aspect that would lend itself perfectly to the stage. Not to mention, the orchestra pit scene could take place in the actual orchestra pit (it's perfect!!).

This is much more screenwriter, Aaron Sorkin's film than it is Boyle's. Obviously, Boyle's stylistic flare is present throughout the entirety of the film, looking somewhere between Slumdog Millionaire and Trance. But there is no denying that this is a showcase for Sorkin. His script is really what makes this film as thrilling as it is, and if there's anyone who could make a board meeting seem entertaining, it's him (just look at The Social Network). Sorkin's script is witty, visceral and never misses a beat. There is absolutely no doubt that Sorkin will be nominated for an Oscar for his screenplay based off of Walter Isaacson's book. There must be one bloody great script coming out soon for it to knock this off the podium for best adapted screenplay.

All in all, Steve Jobs is a thrilling business film, similar to Social Network in its script, but given the energy of Danny Boyle's direction. The acting is superb all around and the soundtrack perfectly encapsulates the tech savvy world of the central characters; this is just absolutely brilliant.

9/10